Ideas for keeping the sun out of my eyes that don't make me look like a prick.

[Doclector]

I went out today to grab some shopping to find the british summer seems to have arrived. Don't know how long for, but it always feels like forever to someone who copes far better with the cold than the heat. Seems brighter than last year. Like, painfully bright. Might just be that I'm on anxiety meds. One of the seemingly hundreds of possible side effects listed was "sensitivity to sunlight". In any case, I've never coped well with it anyway.

Last year I wore the fedora/trillby (look, split hairs all you want, but either way I can't wear it anymore) I bought right before I found out they had became the mark of the pervert. I didn't think it would make me look good, but I've never liked baseball caps, both asthetically and because the hard brim feels uncomfortable on my forehead, and the brim was thick enough to lessen the glare in my eyes without cutting off too much of my peripheral vision.

Goes without saying, that isn't a good option now. I can't just get a pair of shades, either. I wear prescription glasses. I had planned to get some of those reactive lenses if my eye test showed any change in my required prescription, but it didn't, so as it is, it's too expensive to bother with right now.

So, I'm mostly asking what other hats might be an option. I'm not trying to look ultra fashionable, doesn't seem to be much of a point in trying to make someone like me look good, but I need something that doesn't carry such a reputation.

 

[AWAR]

I use shades that clip onto my prescription glasses, they're dirt cheap too.

 

[vioray]

it's an awkward problem, especially if you're even slightly self-conscious. every summer I tell myself I should buy some prescription sunglasses but there's always something else that needs money throwing at it. sadly they seem to be the best option though

I use shades that clip onto my prescription glasses, they're dirt cheap too.

that can work, but you have to be careful to get some good ones that don't scratch the glasses and which match the shape/size enough to not look ridiculous. depending on what kind of frames your prescription glasses have this could be very easy or impossible

 

[Frezzato]

How about a driving/flat cap? They never really fell out of fashion, and they were never too popular. Case in point, neither Charles Tyrwhitt nor Gap.UK carry driving caps. It's either fedoras or baseball caps. I'm guessing that in the UK, flat caps don't seem all that out of place and are probably viewed more as an old man's hat. Even better, right?

Here's a nice one [http://www.hats.com/bailey-of-hollywood-lord-ivy-cap.html]. I would avoid wool, but that's probably because every wool hat I wore was cheap and made my head itch like hell. I would go for a slightly heavier construction in order to keep the shape. And instead of going for pure black, I think a charcoal color would be more versatile.

 

[Melon Hunter]

May I just say I think this is the best title for a thread I've ever seen in the Advice Forum.

As FizzyIzze said, flat caps look quite nice and function pretty well in keeping the sun out of your eyes. Also, judging by their turning up in various High Street stores, it's a fairly popular choice of headwear at the moment without any negative reputation (unless you also happen to chain smoke roll-up cigarettes and have a meticulously trimmed goatee, but I don't think anyone really minds that 'arty' look =P)

Also, you could try a straw trilby instead [http://www.riverisland.com/men/accessories/hats/Ecru-straw-trilby-hat-277981]. I don't think they have negative stereotypes attached to them like their maligned fabric cousins, and also straw hats are great for keeping your head cool on hot summer days. That said, although they're more informal than fabric trilbies, you might still need to put a bit of effort into your outfit so the straw hat doesn't look out of place. If you wanted a more universal hat, I'd recommend the flat cap. Just pick one that's fairly lightweight in case Britain gets a hot summer like it did last year.

 

[Albino Boo]

Get a foldable Panama hat for the summer. The problem with flat caps is that are designed to keep your head warm and your end with a sweaty head. Next time you get new glasses go to specsavers, they do 2 for 1. That way you can get normal and sunglasses.

 

[Callate]

Something like a fisherman's cap, maybe?

I think people who think they know everything about someone because they wear a fedora have more issues than nearly anyone actually wearing one, but, do whatcha gotta do.

 

[Mr.Cynic88]

I feel you on the hat thing. I really like fedoras and they look pretty good on me, but I don't want to be "that guy."

I also feel you on the money thing with the transition lenses, but maybe you should rethink that. I finally got a pair and I love them. I could never wear hats or sunglasses before, and having shaded lenses makes a world of difference.

Really, it's only like another 100 bucks. That's only 2 video games. Or 2 tanks of gas. Or a week of smoking cigarettes. Or whatever other analogy you can think of. The point is, you'll be wearing those glasses everyday, so it's weird that we value them less than a week's worth of groceries.

 

[Doclector]

I feel you on the hat thing. I really like fedoras and they look pretty good on me, but I don't want to be "that guy."

I also feel you on the money thing with the transition lenses, but maybe you should rethink that. I finally got a pair and I love them. I could never wear hats or sunglasses before, and having shaded lenses makes a world of difference.

Really, it's only like another 100 bucks. That's only 2 video games. Or 2 tanks of gas. Or a week of smoking cigarettes. Or whatever other analogy you can think of. The point is, you'll be wearing those glasses everyday, so it's weird that we value them less than a week's worth of groceries.

Yes, but I'm a student.

And as much as the money thing was never as bad for me as people always say it is (maybe it has something to do with having a budget), the 70-something quid that it'll take to buy some reactions just isn't something I can stretch to unless I need to get new glasses anyway, especially with plans being made to make the jump from student accommodation to normal, semi-functioning member of society housing soon.

Get a foldable Panama hat for the summer. The problem with flat caps is that are designed to keep your head warm and your end with a sweaty head. Next time you get new glasses go to specsavers, they do 2 for 1. That way you can get normal and sunglasses.

I go to specsavers anyways, but I'll keep it in mind. A panama sounds good, only trouble would be finding one and the worry that it's still too similiar to the infamous neckbeard hat.

Flat caps might be a solution, the only problem is the heat. I don't suppose it'd be possible to find a slightly lighter one?

God, this is absurd. This should not be a conversation I, someone who doesn't know anything about fashion and doesn't much care to, should be having, but here we are, all because somebody decided a choice of hat should be enough to make an incredibly harsh judgement of your personality and for some baffling reason, that idea caught on so much that it may as well be truth.

 

[Frezzato]

Flat caps might be a solution, the only problem is the heat. I don't suppose it'd be possible to find a slightly lighter one?

Amazon UK has a selection [http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=node%3D1730930031&field-keywords=flat+cap&rh=n%3A1730930031%2Ck%3Aflat+cap] of flat caps, some of which are cotton [http://www.amazon.co.uk/ililily-Hunting-Newsboy-Stretch-flatcap-004-2/dp/B008ARIY08/ref=sr_1_17?s=clothing&ie=UTF8&qid=1397509623&sr=1-17&keywords=flat+cap] (beware of one-size-fits-all). Considering that you've purchased a trilby in the past, I'm sure you know your hat size. It's an advantage to be able to try one on though.

Here's another cotton one [http://www.amazon.co.uk/ililily-Cotton-Simple-Newsboy-flatcap-540-2/dp/B00EI8U0I2/ref=sr_1_73?s=clothing&ie=UTF8&qid=1397509874&sr=1-73&keywords=flat+cap], which looks very nondescript. I'm actually quite surprised at all of the variations on flat caps, but then again, it's Amazon UK. Here in the states your options are pretty much limited to which baseball/basketball/football team logo you want on your baseball cap.

Just don't buy this [http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/91Auo%2BFL5EL._SL1500_.jpg].

 

[Albino Boo]

Get a foldable Panama hat for the summer. The problem with flat caps is that are designed to keep your head warm and your end with a sweaty head. Next time you get new glasses go to specsavers, they do 2 for 1. That way you can get normal and sunglasses.

I go to specsavers anyways, but I'll keep it in mind. A panama sounds good, only trouble would be finding one and the worry that it's still too similar to the infamous neckbeard hat.

Flat caps might be a solution, the only problem is the heat. I don't suppose it'd be possible to find a slightly lighter one?

God, this is absurd. This should not be a conversation I, someone who doesn't know anything about fashion and doesn't much care to, should be having, but here we are, all because somebody decided a choice of hat should be enough to make an incredibly harsh judgement of your personality and for some baffling reason, that idea caught on so much that it may as well be truth.

Well I'm a 41 year old bald man. I wear a flat cap in winter, to keep my head warm and Panama in summer to stop getting sunburnt on the top of my head. For me its practical thing and people don't judge me in the same way as they would a student. The flat cap goes with my winter tweed jackets and the panama goes with my summer unstructured jackets. I have no idea if a panama would go with what you wear because I just thought of things in practical terms.

 

[Albino Boo]

I feel like pointing out that I've never heard the assumption that you're trying to avoid (really, fedora=pervert? who thinks that?). Seriously, never. Even in jest.

My natural inclination is to think that if somebody is willing to judge me like that on the basis of a hat, then they probably aren't worth worrying about. It's a hat. It's being worn for practical purposes. Who are you afraid might judge you? If you buy a style of hat that you don't like then doesn't that mean you're (basically) buying into the idea that wearing a fedora means that one is a pervert?

Its real thing https://www.google.co.uk/search?newwindow=1&safe=off&biw=1920&bih=951&tbm=isch&q=euphoric%20fedora&revid=1894590470&ei=D2ZMU8bdB5D70gWd8oGYCQ&ved=0CCEQsyU

Guess what first impressions count and if you look like dick people will think you are a dick

 

[Batou667]

A hat is a very tricky thing to get right, as it has to suit the rest of your wardrobe and your "style" in general.

I think you should get some sunglasses. Buy a decent pair and they're an investment that will last you years. Alternatively, try the clip-on shades that go on your prescription glasses.

Or if you must get a hat, this one is rather dapper...